Hidden Valley Lake fatal crash case sees delay

LAKEPORT -- The Oakland woman charged in connection with a fatal crash outside Hidden Valley Lake last year had her most recent court matter postponed Tuesday.

Nina Ann Litzin appeared at the Lake County Courthouse for preliminary hearing scheduling, but Judge Andrew S. Blum agreed to delay the proceedings after the prosecution and defense asked for a continuance, senior deputy district attorney John DeChaine said.

Litzin, 24, is due to return to court July 9 to set a date for the key pretrial hearing.

She has pleaded not guilty to three felonies, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and denied three special allegations stemming from the solo-car wreck that killed one passenger and injured another on May 8, 2012.

Leah Davidson Hernandez, 19, of Clearlake died from injuries she sustained after reportedly being thrown out of the Chrysler Sebring during the rollover off Highway 29 near Spruce Grove Road (south).

Charges were formally filed against Litzin in December, and Oakland Police arrested her on the outstanding Lake County warrant last month.

Litzin remains in custody at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow his court coverage on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh or #Lakecourt.